Super Rugby
Rebels suffer injury blow to Vuna
February 4, 2013
The Rebels' Cooper Vuna keeps his balance against the Reds, Reds v Melbourne Rebels, Super Rugby, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia, March 10, 2012
Melbourne Rebels winger Cooper Vuna in action during the 2012 Super Rugby Championship. © Getty Images
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Rebels winger Cooper Vuna is set to miss the opening four rounds of the Super Rugby season after fracturing his right shoulder.

Vuna sustained the injury in the pre-season trial loss to the Waratahs in Hobart.

Scans in Melbourne revealed a cracked scapula, but Vuna will not require surgery.

"Initially I predicted the worst, so to see myself coming back into contention early on in the season is a real relief," Vuna said.

"I'll be working hard to be back firing ready to go for my team-mates."

Damien Hill backed the team's younger players to step up in place of Vuna.

"It's a big disappointment for the team," the Rebels coach said.

"Cooper has had a great pre-season and we could have done without this hurdle. On the positive side we have a number of first-year players that impressed in our first trial, and one of them will now get an opportunity sooner than they may have expected."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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